Golf Club and Tubular Pad Thereof

ABSTRACT

A golf club with a tubular pad, which includes a head, a removable assembly and a shaft, is proposed. The head has a through hole and an annular protrusion protruding inwardly from an inner periphery defining the through hole. The removable assembly has a sleeve, a tubular pad and a fixing member, with the sleeve received in an end of the through hole, with the tubular pad received in the through hole, engaging with the annular protrusion and axially extending from a side of the annular protrusion to another side of the annular protrusion, with the fixing member piercing through the tubular pad, coupling with the sleeve by a fixing portion and pressing the annular protrusion via the tubular pad by a head portion. The shaft inserts into and clamped by the sleeve. Accordingly, anti-disengagement and protection of members by a convenient insertion process is easily achieved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a golf club and, more particularly, to a golf club with a multi-functional tubular pad.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of a conventional golf club including a head 7, a removable assembly 8 and a shaft 9 is shown. The head 7 has a neck 71, a through hole 72 extending through the neck 71, and an annular protrusion 73 protruding inwards from an inner wall defining the through hole 72, with the through hole 72 forming a top opening 721 at a free end of the neck 71 and a bottom opening 722 close to the heel of the head 7. The removable assembly 8 includes a sleeve 81 inserted in the through hole 72 via the top opening 721, a first pad 82 resting on a first side of the annular protrusion 73 facing the top opening 721, a second pad 83 resting on a second side of the annular protrusion 73 facing the bottom opening 722, and a fixing member 84 inserted into the through hole 72 via the bottom opening 722 and serially passing through the second pad 83, annular protrusion 73 and first pad 82 to fix with a bottom of the sleeve 81 by a thread portion 841. As a result, with the thread portion 841 coupling with the sleeve 81, the second pad 83 is sandwiched between the annular protrusion 73 and a head portion 842 of the fixing member 84 opposite to the thread portion 841. Specifically, the first pad 82 is flexible, and the inner diameter thereof is originally smaller than the outer diameter of the thread portion 841. The shaft 9 is inserted into the sleeve 81 to be combined with the head 7 by the removable assembly 8.

With the above structure, undesirable disengagement of the fixing member 84 from the through hole 72 is avoided when the fixing member 84 is uncoupled with the sleeve 81 since an expansion of the first pad 82 for the thread portion 841 to pass through cannot be achieved unless the fixing member 84 is strongly pushed or pulled relatively to the first pad 82. Besides, the second pad 83 sandwiched between the annular protrusion 73 and the head portion 842 is adapted to disperse the stresses between them and thus prolongs the lives of the annular protrusion 73 and the fixing member 84.

However, during the process for arranging the fixing member 84 in the predetermined position, since the first pad 82 is not firmly attached to the first side of the annular protrusion 73 initially, it is difficult to push the first pad 82 to pass though the thread portion 841 unless a tube-shaped tool is used for temporarily receiving the thread portion 841 as well as pushing the first pad 84 toward the annular protrusion 73. Additionally, not only the process for settling the first pad 82 is complicated but tube-shaped tools of different sizes are necessary if there is a change in the size of the fixing member 84 with a different outer diameter of the thread portion 841. As a result, it is necessary to improve the conventional removable assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the objective of this invention to provide a golf club with a tubular pad inside to achieve anti-disengagement and protection of a fixing member, while the tubular is settled by an easy and convenient insertion process.

One embodiment of the invention discloses a golf club, which includes a head, a removable assembly and a shaft. The head has a through hole and an annular protrusion protruding inwardly from an inner periphery defining the through hole, with the annular protrusion serially dividing the through hole into a first section, a narrowed section and a second section, with the narrowed section radially aligned with the annular protrusion. The removable assembly has a sleeve, a tubular pad and a fixing member, with the sleeve received in the first section of the through hole, with the tubular pad received in the through hole, engaging with the annular protrusion and extending from the first section to the second section through the narrowed section, with the fixing member piercing through the tubular pad, coupling with the sleeve by a fixing portion and pressing the annular protrusion via the tubular pad by a head portion. The shaft inserts into and clamped by the sleeve.

In a preferred form shown, the tubular pad has a front part in the first section of the through hole, a rear part in the second section thereof, and a waist part linking the front and rear parts, with each of the front and rear parts having a largest outer diameter larger than a diameter of the narrowed section, with the front part having a smallest inner diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing portion.

In the preferred form shown, the waist part of the tubular pad extends through the narrowed section and has an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the narrowed section.

In the preferred form shown, a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the diameter of the fixing portion.

In the preferred form shown, the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates.

In the preferred form shown, the waist part has a smallest inner diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the fixing portion, and wherein the tubular pad further has an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate.

In another preferred form shown, the tubular pad has a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from a center passage of the tubular pad to an outer periphery thereof, with the center passage forming the smallest inner diameter of the front part.

In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part.

In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part.

The said embodiment of the invention also discloses a tubular pad of golf club, which includes a front part, a rear part, a waist part and a center passage. The front part has a largest outer diameter and a smallest inner diameter. The rear part has a largest outer diameter. The waist part links the front and rear parts. The center passage extends through the front, waist and rear parts serially to form the smallest inner diameter of the front part. The front and rear parts are adapted to engage an annular protrusion surrounding the waist part, located between the front and rear parts, and having a circumferential edge defining a diameter smaller than the largest outer diameters of the front and rear parts.

In a preferred form shown, a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the smallest inner diameter of the front part.

In the preferred form shown, the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates.

In the preferred form shown, the tubular pad further comprises an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate.

In another preferred form shown, the tubular pad further comprises a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from the center passage to an outer periphery of the tubular pad.

In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part.

In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional golf club.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a golf club according to a preferable embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 a is a detailed cross-sectional view of an assembly of members around a tubular pad of the said embodiment of the invention, which shows the labels of the members.

FIG. 3 b is a detailed cross-sectional view of the assembly of members around the tubular pad, which shows the labels of diameters.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first example of the tubular pad.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second example of the tubular pad.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the third example of the tubular pad.

In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the term “first,” “second,” “third,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer” and similar terms are used hereinafter, it should be understood that these terms refer only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings, and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a golf club of the present invention is shown, which includes a head 1, a removable assembly 2 and a shaft 3. The head 1 has a neck 11, a through hole 12 and an annular protrusion 13. The through hole 12 extends through the neck 11 and forms a first opening 121 at a free end of the neck 11 and a second opening 122 close to the heel of the head 1. The annular protrusion 13 inwardly protrudes from an inner periphery of the head 1 defining the through hole 12, and thus the through hole 12 is accordingly divided into a narrowed section S1, a first section S2 and a second section S3, wherein the annular protrusion 13 can be in the form of a complete ring or plural blocks spaced out circumferentially. The narrowed section S1 is in a middle part of the through hole 12 and surrounded by a circumferential edge 131 of the annular protrusion 13, the first section S2 extends from the annular protrusion 13 to the first opening 121, and the second section S3 extends from the annular protrusion 13 to the second opening 122. Additionally, the annular protrusion 13 has a first axial face 132 and a second axial face 133 connecting to opposite sides of the circumferential edge 131, with the first axial face 132 facing the first section S2 of the through hole 12 and the second axial face 133 facing the second section S3 thereof.

The removable assembly 2 has a sleeve 21, a tubular pad 22 and a fixing member 23. The sleeve 21 is inserted in the first section S1 of the through hole 12 and has a compartment 211 and a fixed portion 212, with the compartment 211 receiving an end of the shaft 3, and with the fixed portion 212 being disposed at an end of the sleeve 21 extending toward the annular protrusion 13. The tubular pad 22 is received in the through hole 12, engages with the annular protrusion 13, and extends from the first section S2 to the second section S3 through the narrowed section S1. The fixing member 23 pierces through the tubular pad 22 and has a fixing portion 231, a shank portion 232 and a head portion 233. The fixing portion 231 firmly couples with the fixed portion 212 of the sleeve 21, the shank portion 232 extends through the tubular pad 22, and the head portion 233 presses the second axial face 133 of the annular protrusion 13 via the tubular pad 22. Preferably, the fixing portion 231 is made of a screw bolt while the fixed portion 212 has a screw hole, with threads of the screw bolt and screw hole matching each other.

The shaft 3 inserts into the compartment 211 of the sleeve 21 and is clamped by the sleeve 21, so as to detachably but firmly combine with the head 1 by the removable assembly 2.

Specifically, this preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in the tubular pad 22. Please refer to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, wherein the shown tubular pad 22 is a first example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment. The tubular pad 22 has a front part 221, a rear part 222, a waist part 223 and a center passage 224. The front part 221 is flexible and has a largest outer diameter Df1 larger than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S1 of the through hole 12, and a smallest inner diameter Df2 of the front part 221 is smaller than the diameter Dx of the fixing portion 231. With the arrangements of the largest outer diameter Df1 and smallest inner diameter Df2 relative to the said diameters Dn, Dx, the front part 221 can be kept in the first section S2 and prevent the fixing portion 231 from entering the narrowed section S1 once the tubular pad 22 is settled in the through hole 12. The rear part 222 also has a largest outer diameter Dr larger than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S1 so as to be kept in the second section S3 and sandwiched between the annular protrusion 13 and the head portion 233 of the fixing member 23. The waist part 223 links the front part 221 and the rear part 222 and extends through the narrowed section S1 of the through hole 12. Besides, an outer diameter Dw1 of the waist part 223 is equal to or, preferably, smaller than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S1 for the waist part 223 to easily extend through the narrowed section S1. The center passage 224 extends through the front, waist and rear parts 221, 223, 222 serially so as to form the smallest inner diameter Df2 of the front part 221 and a smallest inner diameter Dw2 of the waist part 223 while an inner diameter of the rear part 222 is preferably equal to the smallest inner diameter Dw2. Accordingly, the tubular pad 22 cannot easily fall out from the through hole 12 via the first opening 121 or second opening 122 since the tubular pad 22 is a single piece member and the annular protrusion 13 is axially engaged between the front and rear parts 221, 222.

Furthermore, there are still some specific designs of the tubular pad 22. Please refer to FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 4 and 5. It is preferable for the front part 221 to have an outer incline 221 a extending from a free end of the front portion 221 to where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates, so that the outer diameter of the front part 221 gradually increases from the said free end to where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates. Accordingly, with a slight and recoverable deformation of the front part 221, the outer incline 221 a can smoothly guide the front part 221 to pass through the narrowed section S1. Moreover, it is preferable that the smallest inner diameter Dw2 as well as the inner diameter of the rear part 222 is larger than the diameter Dx of the fixing portion 231, so that the fixing portion 231 can easily pass through the rear part 222 and the waist part 223 without any obstruction until meeting the front part 221. Besides, it is preferable that the tubular pad 22 further has an inner incline 225 linking where the smallest inner diameters Df2, Dw2 locate, so that the bore of the center passage 224 is gradually narrowed from where the smallest inner diameter Dw2 locates to where the smallest inner diameter Df2 locates. Additionally, the rear part 222 can further provide an outward abutting face 222 a facing the front part 221 and abutting against the second axial face 133 of the annular protrusion 13. Preferably, the whole tubular pad 22 is made of flexible material such as rubber when the tubular pad 22 is a single continuous monolithic piece of a single material.

As a result, during the insertion of the tubular pad 22 into the through hole 12 via the second opening 122, the outer incline 221 a can guide the front part 221 to slightly deform and to slide through the narrowed section S1 till the annular protrusion 13 is axially engaged between the front and rear parts 221, 222. In the insertion step of the fixing member 23 after the tubular pad 22 is settled, the fixing portion 231 is guided to a center line of the center passage 224 by the inner incline 225 while the fixing member 23 enters the center passage 224 and moves toward the front part 221. With a pressure upon the inner cline 225, the front part 221 can be temporarily and recoverably expanded for the fixing portion 231 to pass through. During the processing of the above step, the tubular pad 22 is kept from totally passing through the annular protrusion 13 since the outward abutting face 222 a can surely abut against the second axial face 133 to prevent the rear part 222 from entering the narrowed section S1. Although the inner cline 225 is useful in the above insertion step, it is not definitely needed since a guidance function can also be achieved by a taper shape of a free end of the fixing portion 231.

With the relationship between the diameter Dx and the smallest inner diameter Df2, once the above insertion step is done for the shank portion 232 to axially extend though the whole center passage 224, the fixing portion 231 can be surely kept in the first section S2 no matter the fixing portion 231 is engaged with the fixed portion 212 or not. Thus, the front part 221 of the tubular pad 22 can efficiently avoid disengagement of the fixing member 23. On the other hand, the rear part 222 is sandwiched between the head portion 233 and the second axial face 133 after the fixing portion 231 firmly couples with the fixed portion 212. Accordingly, stresses between the head portion 233 and the annular protrusion 13 are thus dispersed via the rear part 222 made of the flexible material. Besides, with the waist part 223 integrally links the front and rear parts 221, 222, only one insertion process for settling the tubular pad 22 is needed.

Now, please refer to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein a second example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment is shown and labeled as “22′.” This tubular pad 22′ not only has all the elements of the tubular pad 22 of the first example, but also further provides a plurality of axial grooves 226′ on the free end of the front part 221, with these axial grooves 226′ extending form the said free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates and where the waist part 223 links the rear part 222. Each of the axial grooves 226′ radially extends from the center passage 224 to the outer periphery of the tubular pad 22′ so as to circumferentially divide the front part 221 into a plurality of pieces. With the above said axial grooves 226′, the front and waist parts 221, 223 can be made of a first material such as metal that cannot be flexibly and easily bent without these axial grooves 226′ and is different from a second material of the rear part 222 such as rubber. Besides, the strength of the waist part 223 is kept since the waist part 223 is still in a ring form and is not cut into several pieces by the axial grooves 226′.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a third example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment is shown and labeled as “22″.” In comparison with the tubular pad 22′ of the previous example, this tubular pad 22″ also has a plurality of axial grooves 226″, but the axial grooves 226″ extend from the free end of the front part 221 to where the waist part 223 links the rear part 222, with each of the axial grooves 226″ radially extending from the center passage 224 to the outer periphery of the tubular pad 22″, so that both of the front and waist parts 221, 223 are circumferentially divided into plural pieces. Accordingly, the first material made the front and waist parts 221, 223 can be selected from metal more rigid than that used in the second example if the second material made the rear part 222 is soft and flexible enough, such as rubber, for the tubular pad 22″ to deform and partially pass through the narrowed section S1.

In sum, each one of the tubular pads 22, 22′, 22″ in the preferable embodiment of the present invention not only can avoid undesirable disengagement of the fixing member 23 from the though hole 12 when the fixing portion 231 is uncoupled with the fixed portion 212 of the sleeve 21, but also can disperse the stresses between the head portion 233 and the annular protrusion 13, as well as improves the convenience in assembly by its single piece structure.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferable embodiments, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club, comprising: a head having a through hole and an annular protrusion protruding inwardly from an inner periphery defining the through hole, with the annular protrusion serially dividing the through hole into a first section, a narrowed section and a second section, with the narrowed section radially aligned with the annular protrusion; a removable assembly having a sleeve, a tubular pad and a fixing member, with the sleeve received in the first section of the through hole, with the tubular pad received in the through hole, engaging with the annular protrusion and extending from the first section to the second section through the narrowed section, with the fixing member piercing through the tubular pad, coupling with the sleeve by a fixing portion and pressing the annular protrusion via the tubular pad by a head portion; and a shaft inserting into and clamped by the sleeve.
 2. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular pad has a front part in the first section of the through hole, a rear part in the second section thereof, and a waist part linking the front and rear parts, with each of the front and rear parts having a largest outer diameter larger than a diameter of the narrowed section, with the front part having a smallest inner diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing portion.
 3. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein the waist part of the tubular pad extends through the narrowed section and has an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the narrowed section.
 4. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the diameter of the fixing portion.
 5. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates.
 6. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein the waist part has a smallest inner diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the fixing portion, and wherein the tubular pad further has an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate.
 7. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular pad has a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from a center passage of the tubular pad to an outer periphery thereof, with the center passage forming the smallest inner diameter of the front part.
 8. The golf club as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part.
 9. The golf club as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part.
 10. A tubular pad of golf club, comprising: a front part having a largest outer diameter and a smallest inner diameter; a rear part having a largest outer diameter; a waist part linking the front and rear parts; and a center passage extending through the front, waist and rear parts serially to form the smallest inner diameter of the front part, wherein the front and rear parts are adapted to engage an annular protrusion surrounding the waist part, located between the front and rear parts, and having a circumferential edge defining a diameter smaller than the largest outer diameters of the front and rear parts.
 11. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 10, wherein a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the smallest inner diameter of the front part.
 12. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates.
 13. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate.
 14. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from the center passage to an outer periphery of the tubular pad.
 15. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 14, wherein the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part.
 16. The tubular pad of golf club as claimed in claim 14, wherein the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part. 